Method for operating a sealing device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for operating a sealing device, in which packaging material is sealed with a sealing apparatus, and at least one sealing parameter arising during sealing is printed with a printer onto a label. According to the invention it is provided that the sealing parameter is compared with a setpoint value, and in the case of a predetermined deviation, an error message is printed onto the label.

The invention relates to a method for operating a sealing device according to the preamble of the patent claim 1.

A method of the aforementioned kind is well known so that in this regard, no specific evidence in the form of printed publications is required. Such sealing devices including a sealing apparatus and a printer are in particular used to seal the packaging material filled with one or a plurality of medical instruments, wherein after sealing, a label with sealing parameters (for example, sealing temperature, sealing pressure and/or sealing time) is attached to the packaging material so as to be able to subsequently check or document the sealing process. Here, the packaging material is selectively formed as a packaging bag to be closed with one sealing seam, or as a packaging tube to be closed with two sealing seams.

Furthermore, for a subsequent sterilization process, the packaging material is formed in a manner known per se to be permeable for the sterilization medium. At the same time, it is impermeable for possible germs or other contaminants so that an instrument that is sealed in first instance in the packaging material and is subsequently sterilized can be stored sterile at least for a defined time.

It is an object of the invention to improve a method for operating a sealing device of the aforementioned kind, namely in particular with regard to high reliability or certainty of avoiding incorrectly sealed packaging material or incorrectly sealed packaging bags or packaging tubes.

This object is achieved with a method for operating a sealing device of the aforementioned kind by the features specified in the characterizing part of the patent claim 1.

Thus, according to the invention, it is provided that the at least one sealing parameter is compared with a (predefined) setpoint value, and in the case of a predetermined deviation (from the setpoint value), an error message is printed onto the label.

The operator of the sealing thus is directly or immediately informed about a faulty packaging or sealing process and is forced to remove the article to be packed from the faulty packaging and to seal it again with new packaging material.

The consequence of the method according to the invention, namely that the operator is indeed forced to package or seal again, can be explained here by the fact that no operator can store packaging material provided with an error message in a storage or the like or would transfer it to the subsequent sterilization process without having difficulties to justify this. In this manner, the given object is achieved in a surprisingly simple and inventive manner.

Other advantageous refinements arise from the dependent patent claims.

For the sake of completeness, reference is made to the following prior art:

From DE 201 11 126 U1, a sealing seam testing apparatus is known with which sealing seams are tested that are already finished. The measurement data resulting from the test are transferred to a sealing apparatus with a printer and are printed. Thus, in particular, the sealing parameters themselves that are actually used during sealing are not recorded, nor are they compared with setpoint values. Since the sealing parameters cannot be recorded, they also cannot be printed onto a label.

With the solution according to DE 202 03 497 U1, the sealing seam that is already finished is tested with an optical scanner. The resulting measurement data are compared with setpoint data. It is not disclosed that the sealing parameters themselves are recorded and compared with setpoint values and that a deviation is printed onto a label.

The solutions disclosed in the documents DE 10 2009 016 346 A1, DE 10 2009 016 302 A1 and DE 20 2008 017 648 U1 do not show sealing apparatuses in the meaning of the invention.

The method according to the invention including the refinements thereof according to the dependent patent claims is explained in more detail hereinafter based on a preferred exemplary method.

According to the invention, a method for operating a sealing device is provided in first instance in a manner known per se, in which packaging material is hot-sealed with a sealing apparatus and in which sealing parameters arising during sealing of the packaging material, such as, selectively, sealing temperature, sealing pressure and/or sealing time, are printed with a printer onto a label. Subsequently, the label is secured on the packaging material, in particular adhered onto the packaging material. The printer is selectively integrated in the sealing apparatus or is provided as a separate printer.

Essential for the method according to the invention is now that the sealing parameters resulting from the hot sealing process are compared with (predefined) setpoint values, and in the case of a (predetermined) deviation, an optically highlighted error message is printed onto the label. The setpoint values and the maximum deviations are typically determined by the manufacturer of the sealing device based on relevant sealing standards and are stored in a memory of the sealing device. In addition to the sealing parameters, data such as the sealing date, the sealing time and the name of the operator of the sealing device are particularly preferred also printed onto the label.

In the case that—as already mentioned above—packaging tubes are used as packaging material, it is further preferably provided that during a (then required) dual sealing of the packaging material, the sealing parameters of the first sealing are temporarily stored in an electronic memory of the sealing device and are then printed onto the label together with the sealing parameters of the second sealing.

Furthermore, it is provided that the labels are provided with an indicator which changes its color during the sterilization (for example with steam, ethylene oxide or plasma) and indicates in this manner that the packaging with the instruments placed therein has been sterilized. Via the labels it can therefore be demonstrated that, firstly, packaging (sealing) was done correctly and, secondly, that sterilizing was done correctly. During the treatment of the patient, the labels, which preferably can be at least partially removed from the packaging in a nondestructive manner, can be adhered onto the patient's medical record. In this manner, evidence can be provided that each instrument or instrument set used has been properly packaged and sterilized. The result according to the invention is a reliably working documentation system for packaging and sterilization of medical instruments. 

1. A method for operating a sealing device, in which packaging material is sealed with a apparatus, and at least one sealing parameter during sealing is printed with a printer label, wherein the sealing parameter is compared with a setpoint value, and in the case of a predetermined deviation, an error message is printed onto the label.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the label is secured on the packaging material, in particular adhered onto the packaging material.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the sealing parameters characterizing the sealing process, data such as the sealing date, the sealing time and the name of the operator of the sealing apparatus are also printed onto the label.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the case of a dual sealing of the packaging material, the sealing parameters of the first sealing are temporarily stored and are then printed onto the label together with the sealing parameters of the second sealing. 